[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15888]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CRISPUS ATTUCKS MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Carson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the 1955 Crispus Attucks men's basketball team, the first all-African 
American high school athletic team to win a championship, not only in 
the great Hoosier State, but in the United States.
  Although the school was initially constructed out of pressure to 
segregate Indianapolis high schools, Crispus Attucks High School 
quickly became a source of pride for the African American community in 
Indianapolis and across the great Hoosier State.
  However, despite its historic championship victory, the Crispus 
Attucks High School basketball team did not receive the praise and 
recognition traditionally bestowed upon previous State champions.
  After its win, the team took the traditional ride on a fire truck 
from Butler Fieldhouse to Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, but 
the team was not allowed to get off the truck at the Circle for the 
traditional photo sessions. Instead, the fire truck took one more lap 
and then headed back into the city's Black neighborhood.

                              {time}  1030

  Now, Mr. Speaker, 60 years later I stand along all Hoosiers to 
recognize these men for their trailblazing efforts in bringing our city 
together through high school sports. Their win was a major first step 
for African American athletes across our country, breaking the barriers 
of segregation and setting the stage for the diversity that we see 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, today I am joining my colleague in the Senate, Senator 
Joe Donnelly, to give these men the recognition they deserve. It is 
long overdue, but I hope it helps to bring some attention to their 
amazing accomplishments.
  I ask that my colleagues join us today in recognizing the 1955 
Crispus Attucks men's basketball team and thank them for bringing 
tremendous pride to the citizens of Indianapolis and to people of all 
races across our great country.

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